Page 66 of Invasive Species
“So? What’s he like?” I wrap my arms around my legs. My body gives a little twinge, like I’m coming down with something, but I shove it aside for this. I can always take a Tylenol later.
Her face softens, eyes going glassy. “He’s super protective without being all up in my face all the time or keeping me to himself. He just wants me to be happy and healthy, and preferably close to him.”
“Aw. Sounds like you have it bad.”
She shoots me a cheeky grin. “What about you, what’s been going on here?”
“Um, well…” I count off on my fingers, which are feeling sensitive around the joints. “Nothing burned down, but I'm really sorry, Gara did fry Old Mae with some kind of laser.”
“Yes, I’ve seen her. Purple and claws suit her.” Ellen shrugs. I guess aliens are a part of her life now.
“Okay, cool. I progressed the building work by adding some really cool features, but, uh… that means your planning permission isn’t valid.” I drop my hands in my lap. “I fucked up, I’m sorry.”
She pats my shoulder. “Yeah, Laura told me. It’s okay,” she reassures me, but her resignation hurts. A lot. I guess my friends are always compensating for my shortcomings. “I don’tunderstand it much either, that’s why I have Laura looking at it now.”
“Yeah, she doesn’t fuck anything up,” I say, only a small tiny bit resentful.
Ellen frowns. “But I wouldn’t get her to do the designs. That’s your strength, and you doing the actual design is something I wouldn’t change.”
Well, that’s awesome. I lift my fingers to keep counting. “Well, nothing else became a screaming priority, except…” I frown and pout my lips, as if pretending to have trouble remembering.
Ellen shoves my shoulder playfully, except pain radiates down my body.
“Ouch.”
“‘Ouch’?” Gara is back, shouldering through the doorway. Ilia fills the space beyond, dipping his head to prevent headbutting all the wooden beams on the ceiling. Two hulking aliens fill this little farmhouse to bursting, but they aren’t scary. More… familiar.
“Hey, Ilia,” I say, throat scratchy.
“Hello Arra-bellah.” Ilia bows his head. “Gara, what’s your assessment on your patient?”
Gara takes my wrist again. “A little fast, for humans.”
“Might be because you’re here,” Ellen teases.
I stick my tongue out at her. “Yes, well. We’re dating,” I say proudly.
Ilia’s scales ripple with little clacks. “Dat…ting?”
“I have entered the mate binding process with Arra-bellah, Ilia,” Gara says, standing up slowly and pressing a fist to his chest. Must be a salute.
“Is this a mutual choice?” Ilia asks, looking from me to him.
“Yes, from my point of view.” My heart judders a little. What if it’s involuntary for Gara?
“I choose her,” Gara says simply, and it feels so good, like a cold bath.
I shudder. Actually, a cold ice bath is the last thing I want. “So, there’s that. No biggie.”
“I see.” Ellen smooths my hair. “Rest up, Ara. I’ve invited the others over tomorrow for a pizza party, because apparently some clever lady designed us a pizza oven.”
“A fucking great pizza oven,” I mumble, because I’m really tired. Like, really tired, fingers of sleep dragging at my eyelids.
“I’ll stay with her,” Gara says, settling into the chair next to me with a creak and clasping his hands firmly between his knees. He looks pretty immovable, the colors of his skin alternating cream and rose in a starburst pattern.
I glance at the comforter over my body, a really old one patterned with red roses on off-white. What does it mean when he’s copying colors near me?
“Well, give us a shout if you need anything,” Ellen says, shooing Ilia to the door. I smile for my friend finding someone strong and dependable who will make her dreams a reality at last.
